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Updated: May 12, 2026
06:53
Photoelectron Imaging of Anions Illustrated by 310 Nm Detachment of F−
Published on: July 27, 2018
Electron interference in molecular photoionization by attosecond laser pulses
Kai-Jun Yuan1, Huizhong Lu, André D Bandrauk
1Laboratoire de Chimie Théorique, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, J1K 2R1, Canada.
Summary
Investigating molecular photoionization with attosecond X-ray laser pulses reveals momentum stripes and rings in electron distributions. These patterns, arising from electron wave packet interference and diffraction, offer insights into molecular structures.
Area of Science:
- Quantum mechanics
- Atomic and molecular physics
- Ultrafast science
Background:
- Molecular photoionization is a fundamental process in understanding molecular dynamics.
- Attosecond laser pulses enable probing ultrafast electron dynamics in molecules.
- Electron angular distributions provide insights into molecular structure and ionization mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate molecular photoionization dynamics using intense attosecond X-ray laser pulses.
- To analyze photoelectron angular distributions and identify characteristic patterns.
- To explore the relationship between observed patterns and molecular internuclear distances and laser polarization.
Main Methods:
- Numerical solutions of time-dependent Schrödinger equations for one-electron molecular systems (H2(+) and H3(++)).
- Simulation of photoionization by intense attosecond linearly and circularly polarized X-ray laser pulses.
- Analysis of photoelectron momentum distributions, including stripes and rings.
Main Results:
- Observation of momentum stripes with intervals related to molecular internuclear distance (Δp(s)=2π/R).
- Observation of momentum rings resulting from diffraction of directly ionized electrons.
- Demonstration that momentum stripes are insensitive to laser polarization and wavelength.
- Characterization of momentum rings by the angle between electron momentum and molecular axis.
Conclusions:
- The observed momentum stripes and rings are characteristic signatures of molecular photoionization.
- These patterns provide a powerful tool for probing intermolecular structures and dynamics.
- Multi-center interference models accurately describe the complex photoelectron angular distributions.
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